Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality encompasses both the physical and psychological elements of basketball. While his passion for practice and training is well documented, the five-time champion’s curiosity about the external factors that influence human behavior is lesser known. One aspect of that interest is the psychology of color — particularly in understanding the correlations between color, attitude and emotion.

The all-new, mid-top KOBE A.D. shoe applies Bryant’s intrigue of how color personally affects him to a five-shoe collection illuminating the origins and depth of his unyielding quest for improvement.

In the last five years, we have seen the dramatic rise of the influence of social media and blogging all over the world. From training their sights solely on celebrities, brands have shifted their attention to influencers and bloggers to market their brand and their products.

Here in the Philippines, apart from being a medium of creative self-expression for many Filipinos, blogging has become an effective tool in communicating—from promoting the Philippines and what the country has to offer, to influencing and shaping opinions about particular issues and society in general.

With this in mind, Filipino technology company SnippetMEdia, creator of the mobile app of the same name, has decided to take blogging a step further by creating a new platform to cater exclusively to bloggers and independent content creators—SnippetX.

SnippetX is a new platform in SnippetMEdia that brings a whole new dimension to news aggregation by providing unique access to stories written by local and international content creators on topics users are most interested in.

“Whether it’s about travel, fashion, food or technology, Filipinos will now have access to a multitude of stories written by Pinoy bloggers all in one click,” Kitson Kho, founder and chairman of SnippetMEdia said.

So how does SnippetX work?

Kho likened SnippetX to a hub, where content from bloggers and freelance writers can be accessed by readers through the app. With SnippetX, online content creators can maximize the impact of their stories and keep readers engaged with the stories they want to see and follow.

“People are on their smartphones for a good number of hours every day. Being in a mobile app opens opportunities to reach a more captive and responsive audience through targeting and better recommended stories,” he explained.

“SnippetMEdia makes reading and discovering online content easier by saving the users the time and effort in finding what they want to read among a multitude of sources,” stressed Kho. “And now with SnippetX, SnippetMEdia brings a whole new dimension to news aggregation by providing unique access to stories written by Filipino online content creators on topics users are most interested in.”

Nike’s React technology is the brand’s latest innovation when it comes to shoe cushioning. The revolutionary foam is lightweight, responsive and durable, making it easier for athletes to manuever and perform better.

I was lucky to have received a pair of the Nike React Hypedunk 2017 Flyknit before the local release during a media trial runs which was set up by Nike Philippines at the Titan Love Court. Several media members and I got the chance to break in the shoes, along with Nike athletes Gabe Norwood, Kiefer Ravena, LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson.

I was really looking forward to these new Hyperdunks and the React technology that came with it because I own a pair of the 2016 model, which I also got from an event before. The 2016 Hyperdunk Flyknit became my go-to basketball shoe and I was pretty satisfied with its performance.

But when I got to try on and play in the Nike React Hyperdunk 2017, that all changed. Even basketball stars Norwood, Ravena, Tenorio and Thompson were pleased with shoe’s performance.

Aesthetic-wise, the Flyknit upper in the 2017 Hyperdunks looks more premium and sleeker than in the 2016 model. I love the adjustments they made to the Flywire eyelets as well, because that was my main concern when it came to the previous verson — I had a tough time tightening and loosening the laces.

The latest Hyperdunks are powerful and more durable. It provides better support and there’s a lot more bounce (I guess that’s because of the React technology). The one feature I really loved lies at the bottom of the shoe. The traction is insanely impressive, almost similar to the traction on the Kyrie 3, which I also did a review on several months back. I like to be quick on my feet and be able to change direction without sacrificing speed, and the shoe does great with quick and sharp cuts.

There are a few other differences between the 2016 model and this version of the Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit, so I made a short video comparing the two:

Overall, Nike did a great job on the Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit. I’ve already used it on both indoor and outdoor courts, no problem whatsoever. The React tech performs great and the traction is phenomenal. This may just become my new go-to basketball shoe. Looking forward to the different colorways this comes out in.

You can cop the Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit at Nike stores and Titan branches nationwide starting August 3 for P8,095.

Here are some photos of the 2016 and 2017 models of the Nike Hyperdunk Flyknit

The shoes were great right out the box and performed pretty well on the Titan Love Court. The shoe’s durability and the reaction to sudden lateral movements is better than the 2016 model.

Gilas players Gabe Norwood and Kiefer Ravena and Barangay Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson were also able to give the Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknits a run and here’s what they thought about it:

Nike Basketball redefines the limits of the game this season with its latest and most innovative shoe – the Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit. Designed to extend the shoe’s legacy with its action-oriented nature expressed in sleek, minimalistic lines, the newest Hyperdunk sports a modern twist to its classic look.

Tucked inside its very soul is the game-changer for cushioning. Called React, the all-new Nike foam is quite the experience. Soft and ultra responsive as it is strong and stable, the cushioning foam reacts swiftly to every step, then bounces back to its original state, ensuring the player a consistent energy uplift every minute of every game.

Across the world, basketball’s pulse speeds up in the summer. Local, national and global icons are cemented in gyms and on city concrete as skills are refined for every circumstance, from earning your name to mounting a championship defense, from pick-up play to pro-am tournaments.

Nowhere is this verve for the sport more evident than in basketball’s global capitals: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Manila, Beijing and Madrid. Each of these cities carries a distinct competitive fire, and each a unique flare for the game.

Announced in June 2015, Nike’s partnership with the NBA begins with the 2017-18 season. Today, and prior to a major launch in early fall, Nike and the NBA release details of four new primary uniforms and give a first glimpse of the league champion’s Association jersey.

A huge chunk of my childhood was spent watching basketball games on TV. Whether it was the NBA or the PBA, I really enjoyed the competitiveness of the game.

My love for basketball only grew when I hit high school. My classmates and I would talk about the PBA most of the time, and during recess or lunch breaks we’d even play 3-on-3 inside the classroom — with the door as our hoop, emulating our favorite PBA players.

I was a huge Alaska fan growing up, mostly because of Johnny Abarrientos. I was short when I was a kid so I looked up to players who could do wonders on the court despite their size, and Johnny A was the epitome of that. I had an affinity for the way he played the game — he gave it his all and didn’t shy away from bigger opponents. He always seemed to make the right play at the right time, not succumbing to pressure.

Another player I admired watching was Vergel Meneses because of his artistic moves, which at the time were insane. He’d do things on the court that would make you just go, “WOW.” That’s why during the 90s, I rooted for Alaska and Sunkist.

The other day I chanced upon a photo album of shirts from the Epic Wear Facebook page. I had never heard of them before but the photos they posted caught my eye because they were selling shirts that featured monikers of old school PBA stars.

I know these weren’t official PBA merchandise but the shirts looked dope and paid tribute to all the players we miss watching. Nostalgic, right? Reminded me of how exciting and fun the PBA was back in the day.

I just posted a few favorites here, but you can check out the complete collection here. You can cop these shirts at P350 each. Message Epic Wear on Facebook for details.